Brush making apparatus and method



June 7, 1966 T. MARKS ETAL 3,254,923

BRUSH MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 10, 1964 INVE N TO R s 72/500016; MAW/(s Jbsep 72 654;??0/

ATTORNEYS 'z VIIIIIIIIII I III.- I

United States Patent York Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,078 8 Claims. (Cl. 300-21) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a twisted wire brush.

It is known to produce twisted Wire brush products by depositing bristles between adjacent strands of wire and then twisting the strands about each other to lock the bristles in place. In order to effect twisting, the strands with the bristles therebetween are supported via means to provide a reacting force to oppose the applied twisting force. One such type of means comprises a pair of stationary opposed feed jaws which are adapted via opposed grooves or wire-guide channels in the jaws to receive and pass the wires therethrough. As a pair of adjacently arranged wires approach the feed jaws, bristles are deposited between them, and as the wires with the bristles pass through the spaced jaws with each wire riding a groove or channel, a twisting force is applied to the emerging wires to lock the bristles therebetween, the twistreacting force being set up at the jaws.

In bringing the wires with the supported bristles to the jaws, care must be exercised to prevent the bristles from becoming dislodged as they enter the jaws just prior to twisting, otherwise clogging occurs. To minimize this as much as possible the jaws must be carefully machined and accurately dimensioned. Generally, such dies are expensive and their maintenance and replacement costs are high.

It is thus the object of our invention to provide an improved method for making twisted wire brushes.

Another object is to provide an improved feeding die comprising a pair of rotatably mounted Wheels lying in substantially the same plane in opposed relationship, each having a peripheral groove or channel for receiving and supporting wire therein.

A' still further object is to provide an improved brush making machine adapted for either the intermittent or the continuous manufacture of twisted wire brushes.

These and other objects will more clearly appear when taken in conjunction with the following description and the appended drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is illustrative of one embodiment of our invention comprising a pair of rotatably mounted feeding dies in the form of peripherally grooved wheels;

FIG. 2 depicts the feeding of a pair of wires prior to twisting with each wire being drawn through a circular path before being twisted;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a pair of rotatable die wheels show-ing a strand of wire wound around each of the die wheels;

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a brush making machine utilizing the rotata-bly mounted die wheels in conjunction with a twisting mechanism comprising a rotatable chuck; and

FIG. 5 is illustrative of another twisting mechanism adapted for use with theinvention.

In carrying out the invention in the production of a twisted wire product and the like, a first wire is caused to feed'into a first closed path, for example a circular loop, and emerge therefrom while restraining the wire in the closed path against displacement. Coincident with the first wire, a second wire is caused to feed in a second closed path or circular loop lying substantially in the same plane as the first closed path and emerge therefrom adjacent the emerging first wire while also restraining said closed path against displacement. Then as the two wires emerge together from their respective closed paths, a twist is simultaneously applied to them. Since the closed paths are restrained against displacement, a twistreact-ing force is developed the moment a twisting force is applied to the emerging wires.

In the production of brushes, the method comprises guiding a pair of adjacently arranged wires along a longitudinal axis towards a twisting station, causing a first wire to move into a first circular path and emerge tangentially therefrom while restraining the wire moving in said circular path against lateral displacement, causing a second wire to move into a second circular path in substantially the same plane and adjacent the periphery of said first circular path while also restraining the wire moving in the second circular path against lateral displacement, the second wire emerging tangentially from the second circular path adjacent and together with the first emerging wire, feeding bristles between the pair of wires as they approach the respective circular paths, and simultaneously applying a twist to the emerging wires to lock the bristles therebetween.

'One embodiment of the device which may be employed in carrying out the method comprises first and second rotatably mounted peripherally grooved die wheels lying in substantially the same plane with the periphery of one wheel adjacent the periphery of the other, means for guiding a pair of adjacently arranged strands of wires along a longitudinal axis to and between the peripheries of the adjacently supported grooved wheels by looping one wire around the groove of the first wheel and the other wire around the groove of the second wheel and drawing said wires together oil said wheels, means for depositing bristles between the wires as they approach the die wheels, and means for applying a twist to the wires leaving the wheels to lock the bristles therebetween.

In FIG. 1 one embodiment of the feed dies is shown comprising rotatable die wheels 10 and 11 having peripheral grooves 12 and 13, respectively, around each of path by winding once around die wheel 10 and wire 15 similarly being wound once around die wheel 11, the two wires then emerging together forward of the dies as shown. The circular paths assumed by the wires are more clearly shown in FIG. 2. As the two wires approach. the pair of die wheels, bristles 16 are deposited between the two wires, with the bristles supported transversely on wire 15. As the wires are drawn into the idle die wheels with the bristles held therebetween, wires 14 and 15 travel around their respective wheels and cause them to rotate without disturbing the linear travel of the bristles between the wheels. Since the periphery of each wheel is travelling at the same speed as the wire in contact therewith, the bristles are not disturbed in their travel as in the case where stationary jaws are employed. Thus, clogging is substantially minimized. As the bristles pass between the wheels and each wire forms a single loop around its corresponding wheel and emerges forward thereof, the bristles continue in their linear travel between' jacent pins of pin wheel 25. The picker slot may have an adjustable bottom which can be raised or lowered to change the bristle capacity of'picker slot 23. 'With each revolution of the picker Wheel, picker slot 23 moves across the open end of hopper 20 and receives a charge of bristles which it then transfers to the pin wheel near the inclined portion of bristle guide surface 24. The bristles are then carried by a dual pin wheel 25 whose symmetrical wheel members are arranged to overlap a portion of picker wheel 22, and whose pins 26 sweep past the bottom of the inclined portion of bristle guide surface 24. Only one-half of the pin wheel structure is shown in the drawing, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the assembly contains another wheel, not shown, which is identical to wheel 25 and which is mounted on the same shaft with its pins in alignment with pins 26.

The pins of wheel 25 carry the bristles along curved extension 27 of incline 24 and deposit them between wires 28 and 29 as shown in FIG. 4. Continuous wire 28 is drawn from a storage reel (not shown) and between idler rollers 30 and 31. The wire then passes between the two halves of the picker wheel about a wire guide shown as an inner hub 25a separating the two picker wheels and towards the die station 32. Simultaneously as wire 28 is being drawn towards the die wheels, wire 29 is being drawn from reel 33 below the bristle charging station, the wire being drawn just beneath extension 27 so that bristles are deposited upon wire 29. The bristles are held fast by wire 28 bearing on wire 29 as the bristleladen wires move linearly towards die station 32 comprising grooved die wheels 34 supported above and in substantially the same plane with grooved die wheel 35. Wire 28 travels in a single loop about wheel 34 as does wire 29 about wheel 35. As the wires are emerging from the wheels, the bristles are redeposited therebetween. The ends of the wires are gripped in a rotatable chuck 36 attached to a motor 37, the motor being mounted on a reciprocating feed carriage comprising a rotating threaded shaft 38. Intermediate the twisting device and the die wheels, a pair of shearing knives 39, 40 may be provided for cutting the formed brush into the desired length. After the brush is cut, the clipped wire ends are grasped in the chuck and the sequence of operation repeated.

While the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is adapted to the intermittent production of brushes, it will be appreciated that it may also be applied to the continuous production of brushes as described in pending application Serial No. 92,657, filed March 1961, now Patent No. 3,160,440, and assigned to the same assignee. Thus, instead of using the twisting assembly depicted in FIG. 4, we may use the device shown in FIG. 5 which enables the setting up of twisting and feeding forces simultaneously. In this arrangement, a helical screw 41 is mounted within a cylindrical shell 42 on legs 43. When screw 41 is rotated, through meshing gears 44 and 45, the screw engages the bristles of the brush body therein and imparts a simultaneous twisting and feeding force. The wire bodies being looped about the grooves of die wheels 34 and 35 enable the developing of a reacting force which allows the wire to be twisted.

It is apparent that our improved die construction can be used in combination with other known brush making systems, be they intermittent or continuous. show one means of depositing bristles between the wires entering the die wheels, we do not wish to be limited thereby, since other means may be employed, such as disclosed in the Marks US. Patent No. 2,742,327, the Briglia U.S. Patent No. 3,112,957 and other patents.

While the foregoing description sets forth the principles of the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the While we accompanying claims, in which the word twisted wire product is meant to cover any product in which twisted wire strands make up one element of the product, in which the word brush is defined to mean any brush-like article or structure, the word bristle to mean any relatively short transverse member, however soft, the word wire to mean any relatively long twistable member, however rigid, and the words brush body to mean a plurality of wires having bristles spaced thereinbetween, whether twisted or untwisted.

In referring to the movement of wire around die wheels 12 and 13 as describing a closed or circular path, it will be appreciated that the path may be slightly helical in configuration. Thus, while the pitch of the helix might vary as a matter of choice, the path is'considered a closed path insofar as the carrying out of the invention is concerned. When referring to the path as being circular, it is the general appearance indicated when viewing the path as shown in FIG. 2.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a twisted wire product and the like which comprises guiding a pair of adjacently arranged wires along a longitudinal axis towards a twisting station, causing a first wire of said pair to move into a first circular path and emerge tangentially therefrom whilerestraining said wire moving in said circular path vagainst lateral displacement, causing a second wire of said pair to move. into a second circular path in substantially the same plane and adjacent the periphery of said first circular path while also restraining said wire moving in said circular path against lateral displacement, said second wire emerging tangentially from said second circular path adjacent and together with said first emerging wire, feeding bristles between said pair of wires approaching said circular paths, and simultaneously applying a twist to the emerging wires to lock the bristles therebetween.

2. A method of producing a twisted wire product and the like which comprises guiding a pair of adjacently arranged wires along a longitudinal axis to a pair of peripherally grooved die wheels lying adjacent each other substantially in the same plane, causing a first wire of said pair to loop around one of said die wheels and emerge therefrom along said longitudinal axis, causing a second wire of said pair to loop around theother of said die wheelsand emerge therefrom along said longitudinal axis and adjacent. said first emerging wire, feeding bristles between said pair of wires approaching said pair of die wheels, and simultaneously applying a twist to the emerging wires to lock the bristles therebetween.

3. In a'brush making machine, first and second rotatably mounted peripherally grooved wheels lying in substantially the same plane with the periphery of one Wheel adjacent the periphery of the other, means for guiding a pair of adjacently arranged wires along a longitudinal axis to and between said grooved wheels by looping one wire around the groove of the first wheel and the other wire around the groove of the second wheel and drawing said Wires together off said wheels, and means for applysaid wires together off said wheels, means for depositing bristles between said wires approaching said wheels and means for applying a twist to said wires leaving said wheels to lock the bristles therebetween.

5. In a brush making machine, means for feeding bristles to a die station, a die station comprising first and second rotatably mounted peripherally grooved wheels lying in substantially the same plane with the periphery of one wheel adjacent the periphery of the other, means for guiding a pair of adjacently arranged wires along a longitudinal axis to said die station by looping one wire around the groove of a first wheel of said pair and the other wire around the groove of a second Wheel of said pair and drawing said strands together ofi' said wheels, means for depositing bristles between said wires being fed to said die station, and means for applying a twist to said wires leaving said die station to lock the bristles therebetween.

6. A method of producing a twisted wire product and the like which comprises guiding a pair of wires to a pair of peripherally grooved idler wheels lying adjacent each other substantially in the same plane, causing a first wire of said pair to pass around at least a portion of one of said wheels and emerge therefrom along a longitudinal axis, causing a second wire of said pair to pass around at least a portion of the other of said wheels and emerge therefrom along said longitudinal axis and adjacent said first emerging wire, feeding bristles between said pair of wires supported in the grooves of said pair of wheels, and simultaneously applying a twist to the emerging wires to lock the bristles therebetween.

7. In a brush making machine, first and second rotatably mounted peripherally grooved wheels lying in substantially the same plane with the periphery of one Wheel adjacent the periphery of the other, means for guiding a pair of wires to and between said grooved wheels by passing one wire around at least a portion of the first grooved wheel and the other wire around at least a portion of the second grooved wheel and drawing said wir'a together oif said wheels, means for depositing bristles between said wires supported in the grooves of said wheels, and means for applying a twist to said wires leaving said wheels to lock the bristles therebetween.

8. In a brush making machine, first and second rotatably mounted peripherally grooved idler wheels lying in substantially the same plane with the periphery of one wheel adjacent the periphery of the other, first and second Wires, means for drawing said wires, means for guiding said wires to enter said grooved wheels, means for depositing bristles between said moving wires as the wires are being drawn between said wheels, the depth of the adjacent grooves being of such a dimension that the bristles are held by the wires as they are moving between the wheels, and means for twisting said wires as the same leave said wheels to lock the bristles therebetween, the grooved wheels preventing the twist from extending to the wire at the entering side of said wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,957 12/1963 Briglia 300-2 3,140,122 7/1964 Spiegel 300-2 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING A TWISTED WIRE PRODUCT AND THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES GUIDING A PAIR OF ADJACENTLY ARRANGED WIRES ALONG A LONGITUDINAL AXIS TOWARDS A TWISTING STATION, CAUSING A FIRST WIRE OF SAID PAIR TO MOVE INTO A FIRST CIRCULAR PATH AND EMERGE TANGENTIALLY THEREFROM WHILE RESTRAINING SAID WIRE MOVING IN SAID CIRCULAR PATH AGAINST LATERAL DISPLACEMENT, CAUSING A SECOND WIRE OF SAID PAIR TO MOVE INTO A SECOND CIRCULAR PATH IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AND ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PATH WHILE ALSO RESTRAINING SAID WIRE MOVING IN SAID CIRCULAR PATH AGAINST LATERAL DISPLACEMENT, SAID SECOND WIRE EMERGING TANGENTIALLY FROM SAID SECOND CIRCULAR PATH ADJACENT AND TOGETHER WITH SAID FIRST EMERGING WIRE, FEEDING BRISTLES BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF WIRES APPROACHING SAID CIRCULAR PATHS, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A TWIST TO THE EMERGING WIRES TO LOCK THE BRISTLES THEREBETWEEN. 